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In July 2014, Officers Ramon Ornelas and Anthony Sedler fatally shot Jeremy Robertson. Neither had video of the incident.

In January 2015, Officer Michael Oates killed John O'Keefe after an apparent shootout. Again, no lapel footage.

It is unclear if any of the officers were ever disciplined.

In February 2014, Dear fatally shot suspected car thief Mary Hawkes, 19. APD and city officials said Dear's situation is different because he had a habit of not recording his calls.

"This case is about a whole history," said Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry.

APD said it gave Dear a special order to record everything after several citizens filed complaints against him. Chief Gorden Eden said Dear didn't do that, so he fired him.

The personnel board voted this week that there was no proof Dear ever got that order and he could get his job back. The board also said APD needs to strengthen its lapel camera policy to hold its officers accountable.

"The department does not have a standard for acceptable compliance or non-compliance," said personnel board Chairman Lee Peifer.

Dear's attorney, Thomas Grover, said the current policy just isn't consistent about what officers should and shouldn't do, or what happens when they break the rules.

"This department needs to come forward with an unequivocally clear policy with what it is and what they expect from officers," said Grover.

APD said it is still working on its policy.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice criticized APD's lapel camera policy, saying officers should be disciplined if they cannot explain why they don't have footage.